Efficacy of arthroscopic lysis and lavage in patients with temporomandibular joint symptoms associated with generalized osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the efficacy of arthroscopic lysis and lavage in patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms and generalized osteoarthritis (GOA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Twenty-three GOA patients and 23 RA patients were evaluated after 1 year.


RESULTS
Seventeen of 23 patients (74%) in the RA group improved after arthroscopic lysis and lavages compared with 10 of 23 (43%) of the GOA patients. Lateral joint tenderness, crepitation, maximal opening, and maximal protrusion showed most improvement in the RA group.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of this short-term follow-up study, arthroscopic lysis and lavage seem to provide an effective treatment for TMJ pain and dysfunction in RA patients but not in GOA patients.
Gynther
G W
GW
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Huddinge University Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
Holmlund
A B
AB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery*; D019152:Paracentesis / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013585:Synovitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome